Remote control system



March 1937. J. B. N. CARDOZA REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Aug. 15, 1929 2 Sheet s-Sheet 1 R n ma: a N J March 1937. J. B. N. CARDOZA REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Aug. 13, 1929 2 Sheets-Shea? 2 I VEN 0R ATTORN EY Patented Mar. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,073,443 REMOTE con'rnor. svs'rcu John B. N. Cardoza, New York, N. Y.

Application August 13, 1929, Serial No. 385,819

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a system of remote control and particularly to a system wherein the operation of a plurality of devices are controlled from a central point over a single circuit.

The object of the invention is to provide a system of control that is relatively simple and cheap to manufacture and install and which utilizes for its component parts standard types of apparatus easily assembled to produce the desired result.

Another object is to provide a system wherein electrically actuated mechanism is employed to effect the remote control of parts of the apparatus over a simple circuit thereby eliminating individualmanual control thereof and a plurality of circuits, or both.

A further object is to provide a system in which the circuit wiring is reduced to a minimum and which is therefor adapted for use with existing systems such as railroads and the like.

Further objects and advantages will more fully hereinafter appear.

To illustrate the invention it will be described as applied to a railroad system and particularly to a toy electric railroad system. This is shown merely for the sake of illustration as the invention is applicable to a large variety of uses where it is desired to control a plurality of devices from a control point, over a single circuit.

In my pending application, Ser. No. 240,786, filed December 17, 1927, is described a control system applied to toy trains and the possible sequential operations of two such trains on a single track is therein described in detail. In the in- 35 stant application we shall describe further modifications and improvements in the operation of toy trains as described in the aforesaid application, as well as certain improvements eliminating the necessity for step-by-step selection.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention in a diagrammatic way as applied to the operation of two trains,

Fig. l is a diagrammatic view of two trains and the control apparatus therefor.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a modified form of control mechanism.

The numerals I and 2 denote the usual rails or track. 3 is the trolley wire or third rail. (This is usually in toy train systems, positioned between 50 the tracks I and 2 insulated therefrom.)

4 and 5 are the usual driving and/or truck wheels of the locomotive and 6 the trolley wheel, third rail contact wheel or shoe.

The tracks I and 2 are in electrical contact 55 with each other and form one side of a circuit to the locomotives, the circuit being completed via the third rail 2. Such a circuit arrangement is now standard practice and one of the advantages of this system is that no changes are necessary in the track equipment when putting the system in use on existing railroads.

The apparatus shown within the dotted line A is that employed upon a single locomotive; that enclosed by line B, another locomotive. The apparatus in both locomotives may be identical in operation and function, but is shown slightly diiferent in the figure to illustrate a modification of the whistling arrangement.

As a source of power for the locomotive motors, the direct current generator I is provided connected in the usual manner to rails i, 2 and third rail 3. Alternating current of proper voltage and frequency can also be used.

A circuit may now be traced from generator "I (Fig. 1) via tracks I, 2 to wheels 4, 5 of locomotive B, to conductor 8 to selector brush 9, to brush l0, through the motor field F, to brush H, to brush I2, through motor armature l3, via conductor H to impedance coil l5 and via conductor l6 to contact 6 and via rail 3 to the generator 1.

Current from the generator 1 flowing in this circuit will energize the motor F, 13 and cause the locomotive to move forward (the gearing between motor and truck wheels is not shown as it may be of any suitable form and forms no part of this invention).

Now referring to locomotive A, here the selector switch drum I1 is in such a position that the armature and field connections of the motor are reversed as compared to B in relation to the circuit wires 8, l4 and therefore the rotation of the motor is reversed and locomotive A will move backwards, or in a reverse direction to locomo-. tive B.

To efiect control of the locomotives, we employ a source of current in addition to generator 1, this additional source of current being of such a character that with the use of an impedance coil, the operation of the locomotive motors is not affected. A suitable source of current may be the alternating current generator l8 and to provide for a plurality of controls for one locomotive or for controlling a plurality of locomotives, I provide additional generators I9, 20, 2|. These four generators may be of the type commonly any suitable voltage, current and frequency. Suitable frequencies in common use are 16%,

- l depressed,- and A. 6'. current ataxfrequency of 2- V l 33 ,5. 50; 66%. Obviously, more thani'our gen; 1 erators may be employed. 1 These generators are bridged across the" track and third raiicircuit asshowm'a short circuit of the D. C. generator Tbeingprevented-bysuitabie condensers or other means usually placed inthe izer'ierator lead as at 1c. .1

To eifectcontrol of the locomotives isuppose it is desired to reverse the direction of B) key 2! is 66% cycles (or any other desiredfrequency) is momentarily impressed upon tracks I. 2 and 3' and via fconductorsl and II passes into' loco-- motive B. As thiscurrent cannot find .apath through impedance I! it flows via conductor 23 through frequency relay 24* and condenser 25, therebyenergizing 24. .(which is responsive to this frequency only) which closes its normally open contacts 26. D. C. current (the track circuit al- 0 ways being live) now flows from conductor i4 via conductor 21 through solenoid 28 to conductor 8. causing solenoid 28' to energize its plunger 28, actuating the ratchet wheel 80 which moves controller drum ll. changing the connectionslto brushes 9, III. II, l2, to that. shownin A and thereby reversing the, motor connections in B. and thereby reversing the direction of movementof the locomotive on-the track.

The selector switch mechanism is only Show diagrammaticaily- Any-suitable mechanism either rotary, step-by-step, or relay combination may be used to accomplish the desired result. The selector switch drum may have one dead" position whereby the motor circuits are opened, stopping the motor. (The D. C. supply to the tracks is not broken.)

The arrangement of the controller'drum I1 and the cooperating brushes 9, l0, Ii, l2, may be such that any desired combination or sequence of contacts can be made, and more particularly the combinations as described in my application Ser. No. 240,786 hereinbefore mentioned.

-The selector switch is caused to pass through. all its positions in sequence, by repeatedly pressing the key 22 whichmomentarily energizes the frequency relay 28 as just described.

If each locomotive has a relay responsive to current of the same frequency, then each locomotive is controlled by the relative position of the selective switch. 1

If each locomotive has a relay responsive to current of a different frequency then the control is effected by a combination of frequency selection and selector switch position.

The relay 24 is shown diagrammatically. Any suitable mechanism responsive to the current used for the control (as distinguished from the current used for actuating the motors) may be used and while we have shown only one relay responsive to each frequency in each locomotive, it will be understood that a plurality of relays of different frequencies may be employed in each locomotive, to cause a certain selection of circuits, or each locomotive may have only one relay requence of selection. In the latter case, four locomotives may be operated on one system and each controlled independently of the others, each being controlled by one of the generators l8, I9, 20, 2|. At the same time each locomotive can be made to go forward, reverse or stop, by contacting the keys 22, 3|, 32, 33 respectively, controlling it and thereby operating its selector switch and controlling its motor.

motive, a certain frequency may ,be gused, relay" )4 being responsive thereto. and condenser" being arranged in; circuit.- andoperatedfby' -one sponsive to one frequency to cause a certain se- To ring the bell or blow the whistle of a loco- 'of}- the' -'frequency generators same as .relay '24.,

' The contracts as or. control-sw msui 'or-bell zer ivlnsja wmsu ir jct bridee'didi et' on the locomotive c'ircuit in series 1 witlrcondenser I.

as shovih'i'iilocon'iotiVe By-impressing a'currentoi" suitable frequency upon thetrack circuit the device 31 canbe-caused to emit a'whis- 'tle at'any time-without affecting the operation of the selector switches or frequency relays in .this' or any of the other locomotives in the systern. i

In the by'- (a) A selectorswitch having a plurality of positions which can only be attained in sequence. (b) A frequency relay switch. (c) A manual' control for the frequency relay I whose impulses,-manually controlled. actuate the selector switch.

In Fig.2 I show a modification of the system wherein the selector switch has a plurality offpositions'but these do not have to be selected in sequence, as it is the case with'the step-bystep switch of P18. 1.

In Fig. 2 the motor 39, 40 is connected to the selector switch contacts 4i, 4!, 45, 44, as shown. The selector drum is arranged with three reverse".

are each controlled by a frequency relay, one of which is designated by the numeral 51. This relay when actuated by current of the proper frequency, will close its contacts and cause its associated solenoid 56 to draw in its plungers 52 which through, 41, 45, actuates the controller drum 45, and brings the motor circuit to a given position, say reverse". For purposes of illustration I indicate three sources of current of different frequencies by the conventional symbols for generators bearing reference numerals 61, 58 and 69 which are adapted to be connected to the line by operation of the switches 10, H and I2. Thegenerator 51 may produce a current to which only relay 5'! is responsive while generators 68 and 69 may be used to control only'relays 58 and 59 respectively.

It will now be obvious that with the arrangement shown in Fig. '2 no definite sequence of operations need be gone through. v If it is desired to go from stop to reverse it can be done without making the selector switch assume the forward position. Also that regardless of (c) A manual control for the frequency relay, whose impulsescontrol only one position of the selector switch. a

iforeg'oing system,- control is eilected controlling the selector It will be understood that respective relays controlling the selector switch are each opaque to all but the particular frequency for which each is designed, and while all are connected to the same circuit only the relay designed for the particular frequency impressed upon the track circuit, will operate.

What I claim is:

l. A system of control comprising in combination, a railway track and return circuit, a plurality of devices carried by said track and. adapted to be controlled thereon, a three position selector switch on each device, means for selecting the position of each switch, a source of power connected to track and return circuit for operating said devices and said switches, a second source of power for actuating said selecting means bridged across said track circuit and means for manually controlling said last source of power to effect actuation of said switches to any position desired.

2. A system of control comprising two conductors, motors connected thereto, a three position switch for controlling each motor, switch operating means associated with each switch and adapted to be connected to the motor circuit, a source of current for operating the means and the motors connected to the conductors and means for superimposing a plurality of currents oi! diflerent but relatively fixed frequencies on said conductors to cause a selective operation of said switches to either of said positions.

3. lysystem of, control comprising two conable with each motor tor controlling the same,

jasourceot current in fixed relation to said conductors, switch Operating means'icr each switch, and means pziitlyflxed-in irela'tlontosaid con: ductors and partlymovahie' in relation thereto i'or superimposing currents of diflerent characteristics from said first-mentioned current for selectively or simultaneously energizing said switch operating means.

4. A system of remote control comprising in combination, a plurality of electrically operable W to be controlled, electrically operable selector means ioreach device including a switch having three positions, a source of current for operating said switches, each of said means including a relay for selectively connecting its switch to a common circuit and sources of current for selectively actuating said relays independent of said switch operating current.

5. A system of remote control comprising in combination, a plurality of electrically operable devices to be controlled, a common circuit to which each device is connected, electrically operable selector means for each device including a switch having at least three positions, a source of current for operating said switches, each of said means including a selective relay for controlling the movement of each switch, and means for selectively impressing any one or more currents of different frequencies on said circuit for selectively controlling any one or more of said relays.

6. A system of control comprising two conductors, a motor connected thereto, a reversing switch, a plurality of switch operating means for each switch, means for selectively connecting said switch operating means to said conductors thereby operating the switch to a selected position to cause said motor to be operated in a desired manner, a source oi. current connected to said conductors for operating the motor and said switch operating means, and means for superimposing an additional current on said conductors to actuate said means for selectively connecting said switch operating means to thereby actuate said reversing switch without disconnecting theoperating current from the conductors.

7. A system control comprising a circuit, a

' motor connected thereto, a switch for said motor having at least three positions, switch operating means adapted to be connected to said circuit, means inparallel with said circuit for connecting said switch operating means to the circuit, and means for Producing at least three currents of diflering characteristics for energizing said connecting means, and means for selectively impressing any number of said currents on said circuit.

8. A switch device for remote control circuits comprising a plurality of coils having cooperative armatures, contact mechanism having an equal plurality of positions, means connecting said armature to said contact mechanism, a device in circuit with said contacts and a source of current and means independent of said current source for selectively energizing the coils in any desired sequence.

JOHN B. N. CARDOZA. 

